Updated October 2026
The short answer
- Office 2024: best one-time purchase. Security updates until October 2029.
- Microsoft 365: best if you want the newest features, 1 TB of OneDrive and Office on several devices.
- Office 2021: the cheapest, but Microsoft ended its support on 13 October 2026, so it no longer gets security updates.
Support dates
| Version | Security updates until |
|---|---|
| Office 2024 | October 2029 |
| Office 2021 | Ended 13 October 2026 |
| Office 2019 | Ended 14 October 2025 |
| Microsoft 365 | Always, while your subscription is active |
Apps included
- Office 2024 Home: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote.
- Office 2024 Home & Business: adds Outlook and a licence for business use.
- Office 2024 Pro Plus / LTSC Pro Plus: adds Access. Publisher is no longer included in Office 2024.
- Microsoft 365: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote on PC, Mac, tablet and phone, plus OneDrive storage.
Which costs less over time?
A one-time Office licence costs more once but nothing after. A Microsoft 365 subscription costs less to start but renews every year. If you'll use Office for several years and don't need cloud storage, a one-time Office 2024 licence usually works out cheaper.
Keys mentioned in this guide
- Office 2024 Pro Plus $34.99
- Office 2024 Home & Business $49.99
- Microsoft 365 Personal $29.99 / year
- Office 2021 Pro Plus $34.99
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